Teachers: Our Classroom Superheroes

If we had three words to describe our Education work, they would be: we heart teachers. 

Teachers are the real-life superheroes for our nation’s 50.7 million school-aged children and their families. That has never been more true than this past year during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Teachers have gone above and beyond, helping students access food, calling internet providers on behalf of families and spending time outside of school hours supporting students. Simply put, teachers are a source of trust and stability when children and their families need it most. It is no surprise that more than 90% of teachers say they chose their career for the opportunity to contribute to society.

Through it all, teachers have remained powerful agents for developing and delivering high-quality educational experiences for students. Across the country, they have navigated the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 in historically marginalized communities, helped millions of students transition to virtual learning and, where possible, return to an in-school experience different than before. They have acknowledged the real-world learning students are experiencing and incorporated culturally relevant curricula that engage students both as learners and as leaders. 

As the school year begins, we would like to thank our nation’s teachers for their tireless work and lasting influence by highlighting just how much of an impact they make in the lives of our students. 

• 88% of Americans say they had a teacher who had a “significant, positive impact” on their life, in no small part because teachers invest deeply in their relationships with students. (Source: ING Foundation)
• Students who experience strong developmental relationships with their teachers and school staff are more than twice as likely to work hard in school, enjoy their educational experiences, remain committed to their learning and see a future for themselves in their communities. (Source: Search Institute) 
• As middle schoolers, students who have strong and developmentally appropriate relationships with their teachers are 8 times more likely to stick with challenging tasks, enjoy working hard and know it is okay to make mistakes while learning. (Source: Search Institute)
• Black students who have had two Black elementary school teachers are 32% more likely to go to college. (Source: Center for Black Educator Development)
• High school graduation rates have risen steadily since 2005. More students, and more Black, Latinx and Asian students, are successfully graduating from high school and enrolling in degree-granting programs compared to 20 years ago. (Source TNTP)
• With impacts like these, it is not a surprise that 91% of teachers say the opportunity to contribute to society is a big part of why they teach. (Source: NCES)

Below, you will find reports and resources from our grantees that showcase and support the important work that teachers do, from imparting skills and knowledge to changing life trajectories for students and families.